Underwater release mechanism



April 7, 1970 K. R. DAWSON UNDERWATER RELEASE MECHANISM .4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. -29, 1967 INVENTOR- A ENA/ETA/ R. DA WJON 31% )y ATTORNEY I! I! 1.. ZZZ/94 April 7, 1970 K. R. DAWSON 3,504,407

UNDERWATER RELEASE MECHANISM Filed Sept. 29, 1967 .4 Sheets-Sheet 8 mvsmoa ,ez-w/vsn/ R. DAWSON ATTOENE'V April 7, 1970 K. R. DAWSON 3,504,407 I UNDERWATER RELEASE MECHANISM Filed Sept. 29, 1967 .4 Sheets-$heet 3 INVENTOR.

KENNETH A. DAWSON ATTORNEY April 7, 1970 K. R. DAWSON 3,504,401

UNDERWATER RELEASE MECHANISM Filed Sept. 29, 1967 .4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

KENNETH R. PA WSON ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,504,407 UNDERWATER RELEASE MECHANISM Kenneth R. Dawson, Burbank, Calif assignor to The,

Bendix Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 29, 1967, Ser. No. 671,881 Int. Cl. A44b 13/100; B631 21/24; B66c 1/00 US. Cl. 24241 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An underwater release device normally positioned between an anchor and a buoyant member including a glass-reinforced epoxy resin housing containing a solenoid and bifurcated at its lower end to receive a pair of interacting lever members of similar material, the lower of said members terminating in a hook normally positioned to confine a loop member attached to the anchor between itself and the housing with the loop essentially carried along the axis of a solenoid armature and a pivot point significantly displaced from said axis, and an upper member engaging the lower member nearest its pivot and being held in position essentially along the axis of the armature by the armature such that when the solenoid is energized, the armature is pulled away from the upper member, thus releasing it. This permits the buoyant force to rotate both lever members to release the loop, permitting the entire device to be carried to the surface by the buoyant member. Another embodiment provides an additional lever stage with high mechanical advantage for handling much larger loads.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to the field of electrically actuated underwater release devices. There has long been a requirement for a device to be interposed between an underwater instrumentation package and an anchor which would permit the instrumentation package to be retrieved from substantial depths in the ocean upon command. Such devices in the past have generally been operated by explosive means or by means of an electrical actuator such as a solenoid. Explosive devices using squibs, explosive bolts, etc., have not been favored because of the obvious hazards involved in handling them aboard ship. Such devices still require electrically responsive means for igniting them, and the ignition may be triggered either after a set period of time or in response to a sonar signal from the surface. Solenoid-actuated devices have been favored because of the safety aspect, but since the forces available are necessarily less than in the case of the explosively operated devices, they may be more vulnerable to malfunction due to corrosion caused by sea water or to fouling from the adherence of marine life. Solenoids, in themselves, are vulnerable to the extreme pressures experienced at substantial ocean depths and must be manufactured with great care to avoid damage due to the intrusion of sea water. Some solenoids which have been proposed for this use have contributed substantially to the weight of the release mechanism. Excess weight of the mechanism should be avoided since this weight must be added to that of the instrumentation or sonar device which must be supported by the flotation members. In some of the more sophisticated devices where the solenoids are made relatively small and light, additional problems have been introduced through the use of an assembly having a significant number of expendable parts, i.e., parts which are left with the anchor when the release device is actuated. Obviously, where large numbers of release devices are used, this creates additional storage and logistic problems.

SUMMARY The underwater release mechanism described herein is basically a solenoidactuated device, but overcomes a number of the abovenoted disadvantages of solenoid devicesaThe housing is preferably of glass-reinforced epoxy resin which is essentially unaffected by sea water at either low or high pressures. It is also quite resistant to fouling through the accumulation of marine life, and has sufficient strength to carry very high forces. Alternatively, one embodiment includes additional structure for providing a substantially increased load-carrying capacity. The release mechanism itself is designed so that a vow high ratio of release load to solenoid pull is achieved. This is accomplished, at least in part, through a design providing that the primary actuating forces operate along a line which is essentially the axis of the solenoid or solenoid armature member. In this manner, a solenoid can be used which requires a modest amount of battery power to assure a complete and effective release operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a perspective drawing of one embodiment of my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of the lower part of the device shownin FIGURE 1 with a number of the parts shown in phantomto illustrate operation;

FIGURE 3 is a view, partly in section, of another embodiment of my release mechanism; and

FIGURE 4 is another view of the device of FIGURE 3 shown with the solenoid in energized position and the release operated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGURE 1, a frame member of aluminum or other lightweight corrosion-resistant material 10 includes at its top end a reinforced eye 12 for receiving a chain link or other fastening member to be attached to a buoyant member. At its lower end, frame 10 contains a bifurcated pivot 14 carrying a hook 16 pivotable around a pivot pin 18. Carried on hook 16 is a link structure shown as a clevis 20 which would normally be attached to an anchor (not shown). An electrical instrument package 22 is attached between a pair of extending flange portions 24 and 26 forming part of housing 10. Attached below flange 26 are a pair of gloss-rein forced epoxy resin support members 28 and 30, and pivotally attached to members 28 and 30 by means of pivot pins or bolts 32 and 34 are a pair of interacting lever members 36 and 38 which may also be of glassreinforced epoxy resin, shown partially in phantom. A loop 40 which may be similar to a single chain link supports the outboard end of hook 1-6 up against the lower end of a hook-like extension on lever 38 and is restrained in position by means of lever 38 which cooperates with the bottom edges of members 28. and 30 to form a closed passageway for loop 40. Shown at the top end of lever 36 is a depression 42 which receives a solenoid armature 44, which armature is movable axially in an upward direction by energizing of a solenoid carried within the upper end of the glass-reinforced epoxy resin housing defined by members 28 and 30. A small lever 46 having a loop at its outward end surrounding armature 44 is pivotally connected between support members 28 and 30 by means of a pivot pin 48.

The operation of the device shown in FIGURE 1 will become more clearly apparent from consideration. of FIGURE 2. In this figure, members shown are the same as those in FIGURE 1 and bear identical numerals. As shown in solid outline in FIGURE 2, the parts are retained in the same position shown in FIGURE 1; i.e., the

clevis member 20 is restrained relative to hook 16, and hook 16 is carried at its outboard end by means of link 40 which is, in turn, restrained by means of lever 38 acting in conjunction with the support members 28 and 30. The armature member 44, shown broken away, is positioned in the recess at the top of lever 36, and lever 38 is restrained from rotation around its pivot 34 by the upright position of lever 36. Because the device shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 is a heavy-duty version of my release device, the forces tending to cause levers 38 and 36 to pivot around their respective pivot members may be quite high, despite the substantial mechanical advantage inherent in the compound lever system. As a result, there is a tendency for lever member 36 to exert a substantial side thrust on the solenoid armature 44. It has been found desirable to coat armature 44 with a dry film lubricant to minimize the friction load at this point. Where this load is particularly high, the lever member 46 effectively carries the side thrust in preference to having it acting on the armature member 44. The use of this lever member 46 is, of course, optional, depending upon requirements.

In considering the operation of the device of FIGURE 2, it will first be useful to consider the forces with the device as shown in the stationary operative position. As stated, an anchor is normally attached to clevis 20, and this anchor would sit on the ocean floor. A buoyant structure, including instrumentation or sonar devices, is attached to the eye section 12 of frame and exerts a substantial upward force on the release mechanism, tending to pull the mechanism apart. This force is concentrated at the point of contactbetween clevis and the large book 16 and acts through a very short lever arm consisting of the horizontal distancebetween the center of pivot 18 and the point of contact of clevis 20 with hook 16.

Hook 16 is supported at its outboard end by means of link 40, which provides an upward force having the benefit of a much longer lever arm consisting of the horizontal distance between the point of contact of hook 16 with link 40 and the point of contact of clevis 20 and hook 16. Link 40 is, in turn, supported on the hook extension of lever 38 which involves a very short lever arm while the restraining force holding lever 38 in position is effective through a comparatively long lever arm consisting of substantially the entire length of member 38 above its pivot 34. The force exerted by lever 38 against lever 36 acts on an extremely short lever arm consisting of the vertical distance between its point of contact and the center of the pivot 32, and this force is resisted by the armature 44 positioned in the depression 42 in the top of lever 36 as augmented by the resisting force of the small lever 46, if employed. It will, therefore, be observed that the compound lever system employed involves a very high mechanical advantage such that a very small force is required at the upper end of lever 36 to resist the downward force on hook 16 exerted by clevis 20.

When the solenoid is actuated, it will pull armature 44 upwardly, thus releasing member 46 and member 36. Member 36 is then free to rotate counterclockwise, as shown in the arrow, toward position 36', thus exposing to the face of lever 38 an opening permitting member 38 to rotate clockwise, also as shown in the arrow toward position 38, shown in phantom outline. With member 38 in the position shown in phantom, the link 40 is no longer restrained and falls away from member 38 as shown in phantom at numeral 40. With link 40 no longer supporting the outward end of hook member 16, this member begins to pivot around pivot 18 as shown in phantom at numerals 16 and 16", and it swings downwardly, dislodging link 40 as shown at numeral 40 and permitting the entire device to move upwardly under the force of the buoyant member, leaving clevis 20 in relatively lower position as shown in phantom at outlines 20' and 20". As member 36 rotates counterclockwise away from member 46, member 46 is permitted to rotate counterclockwise into the position shown in phantom at numeral 46'.

With the very substantial mechanical advantage afforded by this system, buoyant forces of the order of several thousand pounds may be carried without undue size or weight of the release mechanism itself. In this device, the expendable parts are at a minimum, consisting only of the clevis 20 and the link 40.

Another embodiment of my underwater release device is shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. This device is simpler than that shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, and has a mechanical advantage which may be of the order of onetenth that of the device shown in FIGURES 1 and 2; however, it is fully capable of restraining buoyant forces of the order of several hundred pounds. This release device consists of housing 50 formed of glass-reinforced epoxy resin including an essentially cylindrical upper section which may be attached by an suitable means to a bulkhead 52 forming part of the electrical instrumentation assembly supported by buoyant means (not shown). A high fluid pressure electrical connector 54 is positioned in the bulkhead 52 and includes a sealing ring 56. The connector pins forming part of connector 54 are attached to a mating connector forming part of the instrumentation assembly. Connected to these pins isan electric winding 58 forming part of a solenoid positioned within the housing 50. Winding 58 is tightly wound around a nonmagnetic coil form member 60 and is otherwise contained within a magnetic frame structure 62. Winding 58 is thoroughly impregnated with thermosetting insulating potting compound for the purpose of providing electrical insulation and also for the purpose of eliminating any voids which might make the solenoid Vulnerable to high deep ocean pressures. A magnetic pole piece member 64 is positioned within the hollow interior of coil form member 60, andspaced therefrom is a movable armature membe 66 which, is biased downwardly by means of a conical spring 68. The lower part of housing 50 is forked or bifurcated to provide a support. for a pair of interacting lever members 72 and 76. Because of the sectional view, only the back half of the bifurcated portion is shown. Spring 68 holds armature member 66 in a depression 70 formed in the top of a rotatable lever member 72 which is pivotable around the pivot pin 74 carried in housing 50. Member 72 is shown partially in section to indicate that a mating contact surface on a co-acting lever member 76 is restricted from movement out of the channel formed by the sides of member 72 such that it cannot move out of engagement with member 72 until the solenoid is energized. Member 76 is pivota'ble around a pivot point 78 and includes a hook extension 80 movable against a boss 82 on the lower end of housing 50 to create a confined space indicated by numeral 84 for containing a loop, which may be a chain link 86, attached to an anchor member (not shown). Inthe device as shown, the force exerted by the buoyant member will be in an essentially upward direction, causing an effective downward force by link 86 against the hook portion 80 of lever 76.The pivot point 78 is displaced significantly out of axial alignment with the axis of armature 66. Generally aligned with said axis are the force of loop 86 and the pivot point 74. It will be apparent that this off-center pivot provides for a substantial lever arm through which the force exerted by loop or link 86 acts to assure positive operation of the release device.

In FIGURE 4, the device is shown in the process of releasing after energizing of the solenoid Winding 58. Conical spring member 68 is shown completely compressed against the bottom of the solenoid member, and the upper lever member 72 is shown rotating in a clockwise direction, thereby opening a path permitting the lever member 76 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as shown by the arrows. As member 76 rotates about pivot 78, it carries hook extension 80 to such a position that link 86 is no longer contained and the entire assembly is free to move upwardly under the force of the buoyant member.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the underwater release mechanism described hereinmeets a.

number of the problems set forth above in that it is comparatively simple and easy to fabricate, its main operating members are in the open and readily. inspected, and it tends to minimize loading of the associated buoyant structure because of its. light weight; yet it has a very high ratio of release load to solenoid pull, thus minimizing the amount of electrical energy required for operation. Where very high buoyant forces are involved,.the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 provides a means for dealing With such forces without requiring a heavier solenoid with a higher energy input. The structure is such that it is essentially unaffected by deep water pressures and by fouling from the accumulation of marine life. It involves either a minimum of expendable parts or none whatever; therefore, replacement problems are minimized for successive cycles of operation.

While only two embodiments are shown and described herein, it is recognized that modifications may be made to suit particular requirements. While only two levers are shown in the compound lever system, obviously a larger number may be used if required. Obviously the nature of the connections to the buoyant member and/or the anchor member are a matter of choice. While the housing and the compound lever members have been described as being of aluminum and/or glass-reinforced epoxy resin, other suitable materials may be used. It will be,

recognized, however, that advantages are obtained through the use of materials which are lightweight, strong, and resistant to the deep water environment. Other modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art. I therefore do not desire to be limited except in accord ance with the terms of the following claims.

I claim:

1. For use with a device maintained in an ocean environment having a flexible connection with another device, said connection being subjected to a substantial tension force tending to separate said devices, an electrically actuated release mechanism interposed in said connection comprising a housing including a first section operatively connected to one of said devices, said section including a solenoid having an armature, and a second section bifurcated to form a pair of support legs;

a compound lever system including a plurality of interacting levers pivotally carried by said support legs, a first one of said levers terminating in a hook extension;

a link carried and confined by said hook extension operatively connected to the other of said devices, such that the force acting on said hook extension through said link is in substantial axial alignment with the axis of said armature and the pivot point of said one lever is displaced substantially from said axis;

and another of said levers having a pivot in substantial alignment with saidaxis including a surface engaging said armature such that when said solenoid is energized, said armature is moved out of contact with said surface and said tension force causes said levers to rotate and release said link from said hook extension.

2. A release mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second named lever has a long lever arm between its pivot and said armature contact surface and a much shorter lever arm in contact with said first named lever.

3. A release mechanism as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first named lever has a short effective lever arm acting between its pivot and its point of contact with said link and a much longer lever arm acting between its pivot and its point of contact with said second named lever.

4. A release mechanism asset forth in claim .1 wherein.

said mechanism includes a frame structure attached to said first and second sectionsincluding a pivot and a pro-t jection spaced from said pivot,

an elongated lever attached to said pivot,

a second link operatively attached to the other ofsaid devices,

the end of said elongated lever opposite its pivot being supported by said first named fastening member. to hold said elongated lever in position such that said second link is retained between said projection and said elongated lever.

5. A release mechanism as set forth in claim 4 wherein the effective lever arm between said first and second links is substantially greater in length than the eifective lever arm acting between the pivot of said elongated lever and its point of contact with said second fastening member.

6. A release mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second sections of said housing and said interacting levers are all of glass-reinforced epoxy resin material.

7. An underwater release device for connection be.-

tween an anchor and a buoyant member comprising a housing of lightweight corrosion-resistant material including a hollow upper section and a bifurcated lower section, each end of said lower section having a passageway through its lower end, a first pivot positioned within and extending between the adjacent passageways in said ends and a second pivot located near the center of said lower section;

an electrical actuating device located in said upper section including a linearly movable member extending into said lower section between said ends,

a first lever attached near one end thereof to said second pivot and having at its opposite end a depression for receiving said linearly movable member,

a second lever attached to said first pivot having a hook extension terminating near the bottom of said lower section and having its opposite end in contact with said first lever,

and link means positioned between said hook extension and the bottom of said lower section attached to said anchor and substantially aligned with said linearly movable member whereby upon energizing of said actuating device, said linearly movable member is withdrawn from said depression permitting the force from said buoyant member to rotate said lever members such that said device is carried away from said link.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 9/ 1920 Germany. 4/ 1923 Germany. 11/ 1955 Great Britain.

BERNARD A. GELAK, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

